BEGGING in the town centre, skateboarding and walking your dog off the lead are all to be banned for another three years.

Swindon Borough Council has extended a Public Spaces Protection Order, aimed at stopping people from walking dogs off the lead, begging, drinking alcohol from open containers, chalking or marking surfaces, street trading without permission, aggressively collecting for charity, skateboarding and cycling in Swindon town centre.

The area of the town centre covered by the order has also been extended to cover the railway station, the new Regent Circus cinema and restaurant complex and the job centre off Princes Street.

But yesterday in Wharf Green, skateboarders dismissed as ridiculous fines of up to £1,000 for those caught flouting the PSPO, saying they helped keep the area safe.

First made in November 2015, the PSPO was intended to stop behaviour deemed to have a detrimental effect on the majority of those in the town centre. PSPOs run for three years.

'Safe and welcoming'

Coun Cathy Martyn, cabinet member for public safety, said the order would keep the town centre “safe and welcoming”.

“We know that the vast majority of people visiting the town centre do not cause problems, but we need to continue this process to ensure a positive environment for all,” she added

“I hope this reassures shoppers and local businesses and shows them we are actively working to make Swindon a better place.”

Di Powell, chief executive of inSwindon BID, said: “We welcome the news of the renewal of the town centre PSPO. Providing a safe and welcoming shopping experience is a priority, particularly at a time when UK high streets are facing unprecedented challenges.”

PC Paul Bezzant, Wiltshire Police’s town centre community co-ordinator, added: “We welcome the renewal of the PSPO which has been achieved through listening to the community and working with the Council.

“The opportunity to enforce this through accredited people, supported by us, will assist in keeping the town centre clean and safe.”

Stern words - no fines

A consultation launched earlier this year found a majority of those who responded supported plans to extend the order for another three years.

More than 2,200 people were spoken to by police or InSwindon’s red jacketed security guards about flouting the order between January and July 2018 alone. However since 2015, no £100 fines have been issued to those caught breaching the order more than once. Breaching the town centre PSPO can land those responsible in magistrates’ court and facing a fine of up to £1,000.

As Coun Martyn and Di Powell posed for the Swindon Advertiser photographer yesterday on Canal Walk, at least two people cycled past in clear contravention of the order.

'Ridiculous'

Skateboarder Cameron Warwick, 20, of Royal Wootton Bassett, struck a diplomatic tone: “I definitely understand why they’ve put this order in. But In Swindon there’s not a good concrete place to skate, which is why everybody comes back here.” But he called the £1,000 fines ridiculous: “We’re just trying to have a bit of fun. There's research to show having skateboarders in an area keeps it safe."